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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mr. Ament, I have to admit that I am not to worried
about being attacked by "external enemies" here in Moscow, either but I am
fairly sure that the world trade center wasn't destroyed by a Knights of
Columbus sponsored boy scout troop or the pentagon hit by pissed off Mary Kay
salesladies. Say the pledge or don't. I personally do not see how it excludes
anyone or creates a litmus test. I myself like it. it reminds me of when Sister
Incarnation first taught it to my kindergarten class and the beginning of every
school day there after for the next seven years. I must say that all of that
familiarity did not breed contempt or cause my skin to crawl. I suspect that
this is just the first of many questionable decisions that are about to be
inflicted on our town.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Waiting patiently for the next
election,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>G. Crabtree</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=citizenament@moscow.com href="mailto:citizenament@moscow.com">aaron
ament</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, January 26, 2006 3:13
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] pledge</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I have been personally asked to enter
into the conversation regarding the Pledge of Allegiance and respond to those
questioning the patriotism of some of their fellow citizens.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>While I do not fear external enemies, I do fear unnecessary
divisiveness within our nation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>One focus of the campaign I ran for city council was the inclusion of
all that wished to participate in the governance of
</SPAN></FONT><st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I do not want to see any who wish to
participate excluded because of any litmus test.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We are a great nation that relies on
each of us to express our love of country in a way that is meaningful to us as
individuals.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I made my dedication to country, state
and city when on <st1:date Year="2006" Day="3" Month="1">January 3,
2006</st1:date>; I swore to uphold the Constitution of the
<st1:country-region><st1:place>United States of
America</st1:place></st1:country-region>, The Constitution of the State of
<st1:State><st1:place>Idaho</st1:place></st1:State> and the Code of the City
of <st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Nothing has changed my dedication to
that oath.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>During the past four
years our Mayor asked that the Pledge be said to open meetings of the city
council.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>During the four years
prior to that, the same Mayor saw no need to do so and as far as I know that
was the case prior to him taking office.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>We have a new Mayor.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She
has decided that the Pledge of Allegiance not be wholly discontinued, but be
saved for special occasions, occasions that honor the history of our nation
and the sacrifice of the many that has insured our freedom.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I support my country, my state, my
city and I support my Mayor in this decision. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Aaron Ament</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
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